The First Gift of Christmas

Rating:
Summary: The first gift of Christmas
Review: This is a really enjoyable book, written by an author that really knows how to pull your heart into a story and hold you there. I can see this quaint book as a staple reading materal every Christmas. I real tradition starter.

Rating:
Summary: The First Gift of Christmas Is, Was, and Always Will Be Love
Review: This is Richard Paul Evans' invitation to readers to rise above the glittery trappings and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. He relates the story of how he discovered Christmas in his heart while spending the holiday in Taiwan, a country which does not celebrate Christmas at all.

He compiles his thoughts and introspections on Christmas and divides them into four seasons: Advent, where Christmas asks if we are ready to make room for it in our hearts and give it access to our lives; the Eve, which is a tribute to the love and the sacrifices parents make as excited children lie in bed in anticipation of what is to come; the Morning when tattered paper and empty boxes symbolize a completion of the journey, a journey that is always more important than the destination; and the Night when a parent reflects and asks "Is it enough?" hoping that he has given his child enough magic to inspire, enough celebration to show the importance of family and community, and enough gifts to show the greatest gifts are received in the giving.

This book is quite an eye-opener for parents who hope to share with their children the true meaning of The First Christmas and shows clearly why the First Gift of Christmas...a parent's love...is still the most important aspect of Christmas. The book is very brief, easily read in a mere fifteen minutes, but its message will ideally last a lifetime.